cliffbo
04-25-2006, 03:50 AM
We've decided to dust off our E3 Survival Guide and update to reflect things we've missed, things that have changed, and to work it into the PHP database properly. Also, with at least a dozen trips to E3 to our credit between Rick and I, who better to give the first-timer some advice?
So, here's version 2.0 of our guide, brimming with knowledge both new and old.
1. Get some damn comfortable shoes.
If you get there on time you're going to be standing up for nearly 9 hours...straight. Granted you're going to be walking around and sitting down every once in a while for 5-10 minutes, but if you just wear your standard worn out tennis shoes, flip-flops, or sneakers your feet are going to be killing you, and you're going to get out jumped for t-shirts every time. Gamers of the opposite sex are so not going to be impressed with your lack of Swag-Obtaining SkillzTM.
If you're working the booth it gets worse. Hopefully, your company has been wise enough to spring for chairs for at least you guys to sit in, if not, they probably didn't spring for the good carpet padding, either. (You can TOTALLY tell after the first day.)
Look into getting yourself some decent athletic shoes that have good shock absorption ability, and hopefully aren't made in a sweatshop somewhere by little kids. You can always find some shoes that are close enough to formal that you can get away with wearing them and not drawing the ire of your higher-ups, yet, not so close to formal you're soaking your feet at the end of the day. The other option is purchasing some good insoles. The happiness of your feet is directly proportional to how good of a time you can hope to have at E3.
Rick: This isn't such a big deal for me - my feet are built for walking and standing. But if you don't have hyper-extended arches like I do, get arch supports for your shoes. You can usually find them near the aspirin in a grocery store, or in the foot care aisle of a drug store. You won't realize how vital this is until the end of the first day, when your feet are just a little sore versus crippling pain. Just do us all a favor and spare other people on the show floor from any talk of how much you're gellin'.
2. Gloves/Backpack.
Now some of you people are going to think I'm weird. But trust me on this. Get yourself some gloves...or at least a little towel thing. The bags that you're going to be carrying your swag around in aren't known for their comfort. They're known for the little nylon rope handles that feel like they're going to slice off your fingers. Getting something to cover your hands will make you feel a lot better. Just make sure they're not some creepy leather gloves that don't match what you're wearing or someone's going to think you're some kind of serial killer.
Alternately, you can carry a backpack, but those get searched at the entrance, and also, there's the jumping hindrance there, too. I've been going this route myself recently, though the bit about getting them searched is still pertinent. All a matter of personal preference.
Rick: I can't really jump anyhow, and I'm pretty keen about acquiring stuff quick, so my jumping skills are nearly nil anyhow at the convention. So I take the backpack route, and then work with Clay to take advantage of his hops. Teaming up also allows one person to freelance without worrying about losing their stuff.
For backpacks, make sure to either get one that is supported on both shoulders, or make sure to regularly switch which shoulder is supporting the weight. There are many souvenirs you can get from E3. A stress fracture or damage to your rotator cuff are not among the ones you want.
3. Digital Camera.
There's nothing worse than taking a bunch of possibly once-in-a-lifetime memory pictures and finding out that your film got exposed. The digital camera not only holds more pictures, it doesn't require any sort of development of the pictures, and you can always re-shoot the picture if it came out differently than you expected. If you've got a digital camera and a digital video camera, then you're really set.
This is really less of an issue now that film processing is sort of going the way of 8-track, but still, just remember to pack your camera.
Rick: This is also good for, say, taking pictures of passed-out members of your crew post-show, with some sort of gaming control in their possession. Or the random stuff that out-of-towners just don't see coming when they visit Los Angeles, like people dressed as beef bowls or trucks carrying tons of DDR machines to wherever on a flatbed.
4. There's no such thing as cheap parking within sight of the Convention Center.
Try and find some parking that's not necessarily near the Convention Center, but a tad out of the line of sight, so you get a good balance of cheap and short distance. If you're settling for the $20 parking, you're not doing a good enough job.
Something else to consider is the freeeway you need to get to after the show to get home. Just because you can hit your car quicker doesn't mean you're getting to the freeway first. Not at all. Tons of people have to get to that same freeway exit you have to hit, if you have your car lined up and in the lane you need to hit the exit from, you get there with far less hassle.
Rick: The first day in 2003, we parked for 5 bucks. We walked only a little bit, and it was fine weather out there, as it usually is during LA's late spring. Meanwhile, we heard people trading parking nightmares, wandering the block around the Convention Center for 25 minutes, finding parking for upwards of 50 bucks. We paid less, got to walk in nice weather, and still managed to spend less time in the whole parking ordeal. Of course, keep in mind that the sadists running LA parking lots have caught on. There's usually one or two good lots somewhere around the convention, but they're harder to find than a good Acclaim game. Arrive early, and you'll find it much more easily.
5. Take off a 1/2 hour earlier.
I know that the show's cool and all and you want to soak it in for the maximum amount of time. But if you're driving or even if you're having a friend drive, being stuck in L.A. traffic is no pleasure cruise. The mass of cars trying to leave E3 itself is hellish, not to mention the fact that at around the time of show's close, you're going to be dealing with regular L.A. rush hour traffic. Take the half hour hit and you'll only have to deal with 1 of the 2 evils.
Rick: The alternative to this is to hang around for a couple hours someplace relatively nearby. This isn't just for those lucky enough to get into an after-show party, though. Simply hanging out at Denny's (and breaking the thermostat) or basking in the odd glory of Wokcano is a great alternative to fighting off Los Angeles' infamously slow traffic.
6. People working E3 really don't like tear-down.
See a really cool display that you'd want? Well, nobody's going to hand it to you during the show because they need it to advertise during the show, obviously. But, when the choices are: Pack stuff up and take it home, or turn your head, and not notice that one of the display pieces is missing...let's just say I know people who have walked out of the convention with some interesting stuff...and then people on Ebay have bought it.
The number one rule here is tact. Don't be a jerk if they don't/can't give it to you, and don't keep pestering them for it. Make some pleasant conversation, make your pitch, and if you walk away with something cool, awesome.
Rick: Also, if they still have some nice leftover swag, you are certain to walk home with it. Strategy guides, shirts, posters, controllers... the list of possible swag is staggering. The best is that you'll sometimes discover swag that you didn't even know was there like this. As an apology for not having a shirt at the end of 2005, NVidia gave me a Lego mini-figure keychain with an NVidia logo on it - vastly more interesting than a shirt, and I didn't know it existed until I walked out with one.
7. Nothing attracts a crowd like a crowd.
So find out what it's for, and if it'll be there another day. If you want what the crowd's lined up for, get there early the next day, and you'll find yourself in a MUCH shorter line. Examples include, taking pictures with booth babes, any t-shirt giveaway that invovles playing the game before they give you a shirt, and autographs. Timing is everything, and waiting in line for 3 hours for a shirt when you really could have dashed around, played some games, and probably grabbed 3 other shirts in the meantime is really not an efficient use of your time. As I've told people repeatedly, there is NO game on the show floor that is worth standing in a line half of the day long, and ignoring everything else in the process. You're only going to get to play it for maybe 15-20 minutes tops, anyway.
Rick: It helps to ask the people in line what they're waiting for and how long the wait is. Also, you can generally get a peek at what they're playing and for how long. If the line is moving fast and they're only playing a small part of the game, you can easily jump in - sometimes multiple times.
8. Pack food, eat a big breakfast, or seek food outside the confines of the Convention Center.
Convention food everywhere is expensive. But the food at E3 beats every convention I've ever seen in terms of low quality and high price. Example: 20 oz. Pepsi product. $2.50. Two dollars and fifty cents. I think movie theater prices are cheaper than that. My friend Kisu paid $8 for a Chicken salad with tough pieces of chicken. Last year there were $6 tacos that you could get at Rubio's for $1. There's also $8 hot dogs if you want those. So you can try to sneak food in, or get yourself a big meal to start, and then don't eat anything during the show.
There's also option 3, hope the L.A.P.D. haven't kicked the quasi-legal street vendors who are selling bacon-wrapped hot dogs off the street in front of the Convention Center and Staples Center, and get one of those and a drink for an actual reasonable price. It's probably about the same quality food in terms of health as what you'd get inside the Convention Center, but it tastes a whole hell of a lot better, and it's going to be cheaper.
Rick: Also, since you are still likely to get a bit hungry, figure out where food is available. Some companies have food for meetings, and will try to give it out at the end of the day. SNK used to be usually really good for this, but companies are regularly doing food giveaways, especially for something that is a limited time item, like new soda flavors.
9. Make sure you're representing properly.
Rick found out that wearing his Gameskins.com shirt was not enough to prove his old-schoolness. There were plenty of imitators. So, if you're going to clothe yourself in something to show your gamer pride, pick from your more obscure shirts. Shirts you got as pre-order gifts or something. Because if you can buy it online, you're going to see 20 other people with them...people you don't want to be associated with.
Rick: That was embarrassing beyond belief. I knew what I was talking about, so I managed to redeem myself. Still, though, if I had the chance, I would have picked a different shirt. One thing to consider as an alternate is a t-shirt from something gamers like that people don't immediately go for. The latest "hip thing" I suppose is the webcomic shirt. But pick one other than MegaTokyo, Penny Arcade, or Control-Alt-Delete. Everyone else at the convention already reads them, and probably has the shirt to prove it.
10. Explore as much booth as you can.
Rick: Nintendo proved this in a huge way in 2003. Because no major Pokemon title debuted that year, most people didn't even bother going near the Pokemon section. But they were giving out cards to access a hidden area in Ruby/Sapphire, and it was easy to run by and get several copies. They also had a "weigh your swag" area slightly off to the side, and for almost no wait (the line never got larger than 10 people and moved like nobody's business) you could get the "I've got more swag than you" t-shirt. Think of E3 like your favorite RPG and explore everything. Even if you wander into an area you aren't supposed to be in, just act like you're lost, and no harm no foul.
11. Be courteous to everyone involved.
I was eating with my pals Kisu & Justin, and we see the person dressed as Spongebob Squarepants. They're trying to make their way out of the Convention Center to get her (yes, Spongebob was female.) a break when she's deluged by people trying to get a photo. It seriously takes her an additional 10 minutes to go the next 10 feet to the door and get out of that damn costume. Seeing someone who's walking around on the show floor is different. If the costumed folks are trying to leave, let 'em go. Seriously. The amount of "coolness" that you would get from that picture isn't worth adding to someone else's already looooong day.
Also, I've seen/heard people cussing folks out for not giving them shirts, getting aggravated over not getting whatever free gift is being tossed out or whatever. It's random chance. Don't piss the people who work there off just to get your way. First off, because it's wrong. Second of all, because they remember your name, and your company. There will be another day...as long as you don't ruin it for yourself by not getting invited back.
Rick: If you miss out, the best way to go is the "aw shucks" disappointment. If you do a light version of the puppy dog eyes, you can get some pity, and the booth attendants are likely to be polite and offer alternatives. Sometimes, it will be a different t-shirt, or something from the booth that they keep aside for VIPs. They'll also let you know when they'll get more and tell you how to cut in front of the crowd to get it.
12. Health packs.
Over-the-counter painkillers are allowed in E3, so I'd recommend bringing some if you can get them by the gate. If you're new to the scene, lots of thumping music, bright lights and swarms of people are going to be the likely cause of a headache. Plan ahead, and fight it off.
The other thing I like to bring is sports cream. For some reason my body's cool with me playing basketball for 3 hours straight, but I can stand up for more than an hour with my back starting to get upset at me. This starts a chain reaction of pain in my muscles as they attempt to compensate. Sports cream works wonders on that stuff. Pack some to keep back at the hotel, and you'll be glad you did.
Rick: In 2005, Tylenol actually had a booth giving out free samples on the outside walkway between the two main halls, and I was never so happy to see a booth at E3 in my life. However, I have no idea if they're going to be there this coming year or in the future, so plan ahead.
Other useful things to bring include hand sanitizer (I've been disturbed enough when I do in fact know who was the last to handle that Game Boy Advance), heat patches (for your back and/or arms), and bandages (for obvious reasons). People with a history of problems in a particular joint (like an ankle that has been balky ever since you sprained it years ago) may also wish to bring a support bandage or soft brace for security.
13. Roadside Assistance
This one goes out to our favorite Netjak E3 catastrophe, Mr. Deadpool. DP was cool enough to shuttle himself and Martez all the way from the other side of the country down to E3, only to have his car die on him after the first day of E3. If it wasn't for my AAA Membership, 'ol DP would have been stuck in California until he could push the "Neon of Justice" out of the state.
If you want to plan for every contingency, car failure is one that's not very likely to occur, but totally hellish if it does, so make sure someone in your group has sprung for the $60/yr coverage on AAA to get you out of a jam.
http://www.gametab.com/news/543118/
14: come back with some great footage or you will be lynched
So, here's version 2.0 of our guide, brimming with knowledge both new and old.
1. Get some damn comfortable shoes.
If you get there on time you're going to be standing up for nearly 9 hours...straight. Granted you're going to be walking around and sitting down every once in a while for 5-10 minutes, but if you just wear your standard worn out tennis shoes, flip-flops, or sneakers your feet are going to be killing you, and you're going to get out jumped for t-shirts every time. Gamers of the opposite sex are so not going to be impressed with your lack of Swag-Obtaining SkillzTM.
If you're working the booth it gets worse. Hopefully, your company has been wise enough to spring for chairs for at least you guys to sit in, if not, they probably didn't spring for the good carpet padding, either. (You can TOTALLY tell after the first day.)
Look into getting yourself some decent athletic shoes that have good shock absorption ability, and hopefully aren't made in a sweatshop somewhere by little kids. You can always find some shoes that are close enough to formal that you can get away with wearing them and not drawing the ire of your higher-ups, yet, not so close to formal you're soaking your feet at the end of the day. The other option is purchasing some good insoles. The happiness of your feet is directly proportional to how good of a time you can hope to have at E3.
Rick: This isn't such a big deal for me - my feet are built for walking and standing. But if you don't have hyper-extended arches like I do, get arch supports for your shoes. You can usually find them near the aspirin in a grocery store, or in the foot care aisle of a drug store. You won't realize how vital this is until the end of the first day, when your feet are just a little sore versus crippling pain. Just do us all a favor and spare other people on the show floor from any talk of how much you're gellin'.
2. Gloves/Backpack.
Now some of you people are going to think I'm weird. But trust me on this. Get yourself some gloves...or at least a little towel thing. The bags that you're going to be carrying your swag around in aren't known for their comfort. They're known for the little nylon rope handles that feel like they're going to slice off your fingers. Getting something to cover your hands will make you feel a lot better. Just make sure they're not some creepy leather gloves that don't match what you're wearing or someone's going to think you're some kind of serial killer.
Alternately, you can carry a backpack, but those get searched at the entrance, and also, there's the jumping hindrance there, too. I've been going this route myself recently, though the bit about getting them searched is still pertinent. All a matter of personal preference.
Rick: I can't really jump anyhow, and I'm pretty keen about acquiring stuff quick, so my jumping skills are nearly nil anyhow at the convention. So I take the backpack route, and then work with Clay to take advantage of his hops. Teaming up also allows one person to freelance without worrying about losing their stuff.
For backpacks, make sure to either get one that is supported on both shoulders, or make sure to regularly switch which shoulder is supporting the weight. There are many souvenirs you can get from E3. A stress fracture or damage to your rotator cuff are not among the ones you want.
3. Digital Camera.
There's nothing worse than taking a bunch of possibly once-in-a-lifetime memory pictures and finding out that your film got exposed. The digital camera not only holds more pictures, it doesn't require any sort of development of the pictures, and you can always re-shoot the picture if it came out differently than you expected. If you've got a digital camera and a digital video camera, then you're really set.
This is really less of an issue now that film processing is sort of going the way of 8-track, but still, just remember to pack your camera.
Rick: This is also good for, say, taking pictures of passed-out members of your crew post-show, with some sort of gaming control in their possession. Or the random stuff that out-of-towners just don't see coming when they visit Los Angeles, like people dressed as beef bowls or trucks carrying tons of DDR machines to wherever on a flatbed.
4. There's no such thing as cheap parking within sight of the Convention Center.
Try and find some parking that's not necessarily near the Convention Center, but a tad out of the line of sight, so you get a good balance of cheap and short distance. If you're settling for the $20 parking, you're not doing a good enough job.
Something else to consider is the freeeway you need to get to after the show to get home. Just because you can hit your car quicker doesn't mean you're getting to the freeway first. Not at all. Tons of people have to get to that same freeway exit you have to hit, if you have your car lined up and in the lane you need to hit the exit from, you get there with far less hassle.
Rick: The first day in 2003, we parked for 5 bucks. We walked only a little bit, and it was fine weather out there, as it usually is during LA's late spring. Meanwhile, we heard people trading parking nightmares, wandering the block around the Convention Center for 25 minutes, finding parking for upwards of 50 bucks. We paid less, got to walk in nice weather, and still managed to spend less time in the whole parking ordeal. Of course, keep in mind that the sadists running LA parking lots have caught on. There's usually one or two good lots somewhere around the convention, but they're harder to find than a good Acclaim game. Arrive early, and you'll find it much more easily.
5. Take off a 1/2 hour earlier.
I know that the show's cool and all and you want to soak it in for the maximum amount of time. But if you're driving or even if you're having a friend drive, being stuck in L.A. traffic is no pleasure cruise. The mass of cars trying to leave E3 itself is hellish, not to mention the fact that at around the time of show's close, you're going to be dealing with regular L.A. rush hour traffic. Take the half hour hit and you'll only have to deal with 1 of the 2 evils.
Rick: The alternative to this is to hang around for a couple hours someplace relatively nearby. This isn't just for those lucky enough to get into an after-show party, though. Simply hanging out at Denny's (and breaking the thermostat) or basking in the odd glory of Wokcano is a great alternative to fighting off Los Angeles' infamously slow traffic.
6. People working E3 really don't like tear-down.
See a really cool display that you'd want? Well, nobody's going to hand it to you during the show because they need it to advertise during the show, obviously. But, when the choices are: Pack stuff up and take it home, or turn your head, and not notice that one of the display pieces is missing...let's just say I know people who have walked out of the convention with some interesting stuff...and then people on Ebay have bought it.
The number one rule here is tact. Don't be a jerk if they don't/can't give it to you, and don't keep pestering them for it. Make some pleasant conversation, make your pitch, and if you walk away with something cool, awesome.
Rick: Also, if they still have some nice leftover swag, you are certain to walk home with it. Strategy guides, shirts, posters, controllers... the list of possible swag is staggering. The best is that you'll sometimes discover swag that you didn't even know was there like this. As an apology for not having a shirt at the end of 2005, NVidia gave me a Lego mini-figure keychain with an NVidia logo on it - vastly more interesting than a shirt, and I didn't know it existed until I walked out with one.
7. Nothing attracts a crowd like a crowd.
So find out what it's for, and if it'll be there another day. If you want what the crowd's lined up for, get there early the next day, and you'll find yourself in a MUCH shorter line. Examples include, taking pictures with booth babes, any t-shirt giveaway that invovles playing the game before they give you a shirt, and autographs. Timing is everything, and waiting in line for 3 hours for a shirt when you really could have dashed around, played some games, and probably grabbed 3 other shirts in the meantime is really not an efficient use of your time. As I've told people repeatedly, there is NO game on the show floor that is worth standing in a line half of the day long, and ignoring everything else in the process. You're only going to get to play it for maybe 15-20 minutes tops, anyway.
Rick: It helps to ask the people in line what they're waiting for and how long the wait is. Also, you can generally get a peek at what they're playing and for how long. If the line is moving fast and they're only playing a small part of the game, you can easily jump in - sometimes multiple times.
8. Pack food, eat a big breakfast, or seek food outside the confines of the Convention Center.
Convention food everywhere is expensive. But the food at E3 beats every convention I've ever seen in terms of low quality and high price. Example: 20 oz. Pepsi product. $2.50. Two dollars and fifty cents. I think movie theater prices are cheaper than that. My friend Kisu paid $8 for a Chicken salad with tough pieces of chicken. Last year there were $6 tacos that you could get at Rubio's for $1. There's also $8 hot dogs if you want those. So you can try to sneak food in, or get yourself a big meal to start, and then don't eat anything during the show.
There's also option 3, hope the L.A.P.D. haven't kicked the quasi-legal street vendors who are selling bacon-wrapped hot dogs off the street in front of the Convention Center and Staples Center, and get one of those and a drink for an actual reasonable price. It's probably about the same quality food in terms of health as what you'd get inside the Convention Center, but it tastes a whole hell of a lot better, and it's going to be cheaper.
Rick: Also, since you are still likely to get a bit hungry, figure out where food is available. Some companies have food for meetings, and will try to give it out at the end of the day. SNK used to be usually really good for this, but companies are regularly doing food giveaways, especially for something that is a limited time item, like new soda flavors.
9. Make sure you're representing properly.
Rick found out that wearing his Gameskins.com shirt was not enough to prove his old-schoolness. There were plenty of imitators. So, if you're going to clothe yourself in something to show your gamer pride, pick from your more obscure shirts. Shirts you got as pre-order gifts or something. Because if you can buy it online, you're going to see 20 other people with them...people you don't want to be associated with.
Rick: That was embarrassing beyond belief. I knew what I was talking about, so I managed to redeem myself. Still, though, if I had the chance, I would have picked a different shirt. One thing to consider as an alternate is a t-shirt from something gamers like that people don't immediately go for. The latest "hip thing" I suppose is the webcomic shirt. But pick one other than MegaTokyo, Penny Arcade, or Control-Alt-Delete. Everyone else at the convention already reads them, and probably has the shirt to prove it.
10. Explore as much booth as you can.
Rick: Nintendo proved this in a huge way in 2003. Because no major Pokemon title debuted that year, most people didn't even bother going near the Pokemon section. But they were giving out cards to access a hidden area in Ruby/Sapphire, and it was easy to run by and get several copies. They also had a "weigh your swag" area slightly off to the side, and for almost no wait (the line never got larger than 10 people and moved like nobody's business) you could get the "I've got more swag than you" t-shirt. Think of E3 like your favorite RPG and explore everything. Even if you wander into an area you aren't supposed to be in, just act like you're lost, and no harm no foul.
11. Be courteous to everyone involved.
I was eating with my pals Kisu & Justin, and we see the person dressed as Spongebob Squarepants. They're trying to make their way out of the Convention Center to get her (yes, Spongebob was female.) a break when she's deluged by people trying to get a photo. It seriously takes her an additional 10 minutes to go the next 10 feet to the door and get out of that damn costume. Seeing someone who's walking around on the show floor is different. If the costumed folks are trying to leave, let 'em go. Seriously. The amount of "coolness" that you would get from that picture isn't worth adding to someone else's already looooong day.
Also, I've seen/heard people cussing folks out for not giving them shirts, getting aggravated over not getting whatever free gift is being tossed out or whatever. It's random chance. Don't piss the people who work there off just to get your way. First off, because it's wrong. Second of all, because they remember your name, and your company. There will be another day...as long as you don't ruin it for yourself by not getting invited back.
Rick: If you miss out, the best way to go is the "aw shucks" disappointment. If you do a light version of the puppy dog eyes, you can get some pity, and the booth attendants are likely to be polite and offer alternatives. Sometimes, it will be a different t-shirt, or something from the booth that they keep aside for VIPs. They'll also let you know when they'll get more and tell you how to cut in front of the crowd to get it.
12. Health packs.
Over-the-counter painkillers are allowed in E3, so I'd recommend bringing some if you can get them by the gate. If you're new to the scene, lots of thumping music, bright lights and swarms of people are going to be the likely cause of a headache. Plan ahead, and fight it off.
The other thing I like to bring is sports cream. For some reason my body's cool with me playing basketball for 3 hours straight, but I can stand up for more than an hour with my back starting to get upset at me. This starts a chain reaction of pain in my muscles as they attempt to compensate. Sports cream works wonders on that stuff. Pack some to keep back at the hotel, and you'll be glad you did.
Rick: In 2005, Tylenol actually had a booth giving out free samples on the outside walkway between the two main halls, and I was never so happy to see a booth at E3 in my life. However, I have no idea if they're going to be there this coming year or in the future, so plan ahead.
Other useful things to bring include hand sanitizer (I've been disturbed enough when I do in fact know who was the last to handle that Game Boy Advance), heat patches (for your back and/or arms), and bandages (for obvious reasons). People with a history of problems in a particular joint (like an ankle that has been balky ever since you sprained it years ago) may also wish to bring a support bandage or soft brace for security.
13. Roadside Assistance
This one goes out to our favorite Netjak E3 catastrophe, Mr. Deadpool. DP was cool enough to shuttle himself and Martez all the way from the other side of the country down to E3, only to have his car die on him after the first day of E3. If it wasn't for my AAA Membership, 'ol DP would have been stuck in California until he could push the "Neon of Justice" out of the state.
If you want to plan for every contingency, car failure is one that's not very likely to occur, but totally hellish if it does, so make sure someone in your group has sprung for the $60/yr coverage on AAA to get you out of a jam.
http://www.gametab.com/news/543118/
14: come back with some great footage or you will be lynched